BOSTON – Johnny Damon was not the only player making his return to Fenway Park last night. Just hours before the Red Sox and Yankees played their first game of the season, Boston reacquired catcher Doug Mirabelli.

After trying to find a replacement to catch knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, the Red Sox decided to bring back the man who had been Wakefield’s personal catcher from 2002-05. The Sox got Mirabelli from the Padres for catcher Josh Bard, minor league pitcher Cla Meredith and a player to be named later or cash considerations. Boston had traded the catcher to San Diego in December for second baseman Mark Loretta.

“It seemed to make sense,” Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. “The acquisition cost was pretty reasonable. We were at a point deep enough into the season that we thought it was time to do something.”

The trade was completed early yesterday morning and Mirabelli took a private plane to Boston. He landed just before game time last night, had a police escort to Fenway Park, and was in the starting lineup. He was in uniform when he arrived at the stadium.

The Yankees also made a bid to acquire Mirabelli in an effort to block their rivals. If they had gotten the catcher, the Yankees likely would have traded him immediately to another team.

“I was not ready to wind up with him,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said, “but I didn’t want them to feel like it was a one-horse race.”

The trade was made between Padres owner John Moores and Sox president Larry Lucchino, who worked together in San Diego.

The Yankees’ involvement drove up the price of the trade, which the Sox felt they had to make after Bard allowed 10 passed balls in six starts this season.

“I wanted to make sure it hurt,” Cashman said.

Epstein said he was not sure whether to believe the Yankees were involved, because teams use that as a smokescreen often with them.

“I don’t know if we’ve made a trade over the last three years that the other team hasn’t said the Yankees are involved somehow or the other,” Epstein said. “You learn to accept it.”

Mirabelli, who was backing up Mike Piazza in San Diego, was behind the plate for 704 2/3 of the 779 1/3 regular season innings thrown by Wakefield from 2002-05. Without Mirabelli this season, Wakefield is 1-4 with a 3.90 ERA.

“He’ll step into a role that’s not easy to step into and he’ll do it just like that,” Sox manager Terry Francona said. “He’ll get off the plane, show up and catch the knuckleball.”